The International Barley Hub announces new deputy directors
The James Hutton Institute is delighted to announce that Dr Kelly Houston, Dr Isabelle Colas and Dr Sarah McKim have been announced joint deputy directors of one of its innovation centres, the International Barley Hub (IBH).
The IBH promotes scientific discovery and innovation to future-proof barley, the predominant crop grown in Scotland.
Climate change and other environmental challenges, coupled with an increasing demand for the crop means that research into genetics and breeding is vitally important to safeguard production and ensure a sustainable future for this most critical of crops.
The IBH is part of a £62m investment through the Tay Cities Region Deal (TRCD) a partnership between local, Scottish and UK governments and the private, academic and voluntary sectors.
Dr Houston is a barley geneticist who has worked at the Hutton for the last 16 years since gaining her PhD in plant population genetics from Newcastle University.
She identifies and characterises lines of barley containing variation for important traits and genes, induces genetic diversity using gene editing and identifies the interactions between genes of interest.
Her current research includes identifying and understanding genes responsible for micronutrient uptake in the plant to help maintain yields, and the ability of plants to be resilient under a range of different conditions induced by physical, rather than biological stress.
Commenting on her appointment, she said, “I am really pleased to accept this role at what is a very exciting time in crop research, in particular at IBH where we currently have a fantastic momentum with a large cohort of students and industrial partners working towards tackling some of the big sustainability issues that are facing the barley supply chain.”
“I am really pleased to accept this role at what is a very exciting time in crop research, in particular at IBH where we currently have a fantastic momentum with a large cohort of students and industrial partners working towards tackling some of the big sustainability issues that are facing the barley supply chain.”
Dr Kelly Houston, The James Hutton Institute
Dr Colas received her master’s degree from the University of Pierre et Marie Curie in France and started her career in a private company, AGROGENE S.A., specialising in providing molecular markers for the breeding programme and GMO testing for the worldwide seed market.
She gained her PhD at the John Innes Centre in Norwich on wheat meiosis and the understanding of the wheat Ph1 locus. She joined the Scottish Crop Research Institute in 2010 to work on barley meiosis and develop the cytogenic capacity for the crop under funding from Europe and BBSRC.
On her role she said, “This a very novel and refreshing perspective and I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to be part of this team and bring people together to share ideas and resources to find solutions to the tremendous challenges that our agriculture is currently facing.”
Dr McKim leads an internationally recognised research programme investigating developmental genetics of cereals. She studied for her PhD in Botany at the University of British Columbia, Canada, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford. She has been based at the Hutton since 2013.
Her diverse research is underpinned by exploitation and generation of enabling technologies for barley research, many of which were developed by scientists at IBH. She is currently studying routes to resilience in cereal crops.
Dr McKim is also a Reader and Principal Investigator at the University of Dundee, where she contributes to plant science teaching as well as graduate student supervision.
She said, “In my new role, I am looking forward to developing and enhancing the relationships between IBH and academics throughout the UK and around the world as we strive for resilient and sustainable crops.”
IBH Director, Professor Tim George, said, “We are trying something new with the management of the International Barley Hub where Kelly, Isabelle and Sarah will be leading on our three main portfolios of capacity, community and collaboration, respectively.
“All three have long-term experience of working in the field of barley research and I am looking forward to working with them to deliver a dynamic IBH and ultimately improve the sustainability of the barley production system.”
The Hutton holds an Athena Silver Award, which is the framework used by higher education and research institutions to promote gender equality, having shown an increased commitment to flexible working, as well as clear cut career pathways for researchers and growing numbers of senior appointments of women.
